Three sisters bed, how to

[Jimmy]

I have heard a lot about three sisters bed, the idea sounds very good for my small raised beds but I have a few queries.

What's the best sweetcorn a tall strain ?

What's the best climing bean. I would have though runners would be too vigourous and swamp the bed. Perhaps french climbers ?

What's the best squash ( don't want marrows/courgettes ). Butter nut don't like outside in Lancashire. So some form of squash that will be OK.

Timings of plantings ?

Any additional support.

Anyone any experience or ideas ?

Thanks
Jimmy

[kernowyon]

check out this thread

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ery_14490.html

may answer a few of your questions

[Flummery]

It's ideal if you want to use the beans and corn dried - as the native Americans did - for winter use. If you want to pick fresh beans and corn, it's a bit messy. The squashes are fine though and you can use pumpkins. if you prefer. A few people decided on 2 sisters last year and the year before - to save the problem of trying to untangle the beans from the corn cobs!

[Smuff]

I have heard a lot about three sisters bed, the idea sounds very good for my small raised beds but I have a few queries.

What's the best sweetcorn a tall strain ?

What's the best climing bean. I would have though runners would be too vigourous and swamp the bed. Perhaps french climbers ?

What's the best squash ( don't want marrows/courgettes ). Butter nut don't like outside in Lancashire. So some form of squash that will be OK.

Timings of plantings ?

Any additional support.

Anyone any experience or ideas ?

Thanks
Jimmy

Hi,
tried it 2 years ago and it wasn't a success; probably because of the weather and my cackhanded-ness.
I planted everything at the same time and the corn grew slowly and steadily, the beans went mad and out-grew the corn and ended up everywhere and the pumkin sulked and didn't produce anything. Oh and the weeds loved the well fed, cramped, damp conditions.

If trying it again I would either, give the sweetcorn a chance to get established before planting the beans, or provide support for the beans to scramble up and out of the way. I would also ditch the pumpkin and try a courgette or marrow. Mulching for weed control could be a way to avoid the weed infested hell I ended up with.

The corn was Swift, the beans were Cobra (french climbers) and the pumpkin was Becky.

[nick the grief]

I got all excited for a minute then realised you were on about Veg

[BrideXIII]

well i am considering it, with corn,peas and marrows rather than squash.

the peas are dwarf so shouldn't outstrip the corn.

[Two_Sheds]

But peas have tendrils, and can't cling to corn stalks. They need something finer, like pea netting or twiggy sticks.

[BrideXIII]

But peas have tendrils, and can't cling to corn stalks. They need something finer, like pea netting or twiggy sticks.

well i figured i would short stake em like i did in the containers this year, with the little green sticks.

[bluemoon]

I did it this year with potti marron pumpkins, fasold French climbing beans and sundance sweetcorn, I was surprised at how well it worked and we had some delicious crops from all three.

[janto]

three sisters

hi all
last year i planted sweetcorn, in 5 rows outer sides i planted courgette and on the inside i planted a mix of marrow and pumpkin it worked very well,
had to mind my feet when picking some of the marrows but it worked realy
well.

[Alison]

I did 2 sisters last year but the corn only grew about 3 foot (if that high) and the squash (Harlequin) went mad and swamped the corn and it didn't really fertilise properly. Got some lovely squashes though and it supressed the weeds really well so the bed is in much better condition now. Think that the corn was stunted by the wind as I've grown the same variety in the past at it's been much taller.

[gridgardener]

this might be better mix to grow